# NTSB ERA14IA370: Piper PA-44-180, N216FW, Jacksonville, FL, July 31, 2014 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: July 31, 2014, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Jacksonville, FL - Coordinates: 30.218889, -81.87722 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2189&lon=-81.8772&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 14, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 89779 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14IA370 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89779/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89779 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14IA370 ## Probable cause The nose landing gear collapse for reasons that could not be determined because examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Piper PA-44-180, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=7104402), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The two pilots, both of whom were flight instructors, were practicing a single-engine approach and landing when the incident occurred. Both pilots reported that all three landing gear position lights indicated that the landing gear were down and locked before landing, and the pilot flying described the landing as "normal." During the landing roll, the pilot not flying observed the landing gear position lights flicker, and the nose landing gear subsequently collapsed. The airplane was subsequently placed on jacks, and the landing gear were cycled. The landing gear extended, locked, and retracted normally, and the flickering of the gear position lights could not be replicated. ## Factual narrative On July 31, 2014, about 1430 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-44-180, N216FW, sustained minor damage during a nose landing gear collapse on landing roll at Cecil Airport (VQQ), Jacksonville, Florida. The two flight instructors onboard were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the instructional flight, which was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Both pilots provided statements, and their statements were consistent throughout. They were conducting a single-engine approach and landing when the event occurred. All three landing gear position lights indicated that the landing gear were down and locked prior to landing, and the pilot flying described the landing as "normal." During the landing roll, the second pilot observed the landing gear position lights flicker, and the nose landing gear subsequently collapsed. The pilots secured the airplane and egressed on the runway. Examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed minor damage to the airplane's nose cone and propeller blades. The airplane was placed on jacks and the landing gear was cycled. The landing gear extended, locked, and retracted normally, and the flickering of the gear position lights could not be replicated. The airplane was subsequently issued a ferry permit to return to its base for repairs. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N216FW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N216FW), registered now, S/N 447995181, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-44-180 - Registry model: [Piper PA-44-180](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-44-180) (registry code 7104402) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 447995181 - Year built: 1979 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating; LYCOMING O-360 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Atp Aircraft 2 LLC - Registered owner: Atp Aircraft 2 LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: CRG, JACKSONVILLE, FL - Destination: VQQ, JACKSONVILLE, FL - Airport: VQQ, Cecil Airport, runway 18L, 12,503 × 200 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 25; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: right - Flight instructor; age 31; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; seat: right ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: VQQ ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Incident 20140731015009I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140731015009I), Jul 31, 2014: Piper PA-44-180, Jacksonville, FL, Minor damage. On July 31, 2014, about 1450 eastern daylight time, a Piper PA-44-180, N216FW, sustained minor damage when the nose landing gear collapsed during landing roll… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 23, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89779. 447 KB in all. - Memorandum for Record - FAA (item 1, .PDF, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40441610&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF - Pilot Statements (item 2, .PDF, 359 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40441611&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statements-Master.PDF From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.